This Time, I Have to Convince the Goddess

"I can consider the first and third conditions. It's only the second, the offering—I don't know what kind of offering would please Elune." Azshara thought it over and finally decided that she had already paid such a huge price to restore her beauty. There was no turning back now; the sunk cost was simply too great.

She stared blankly at Deren, wanting to know what this utterly ordinary man would say. Vashj had said he had plenty of crafty ideas.

Deren looked at the teacup on the table, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop as he calculated what else he could squeeze out of this "beautiful snake" before him.

"You've spent more than ten thousand years on the ocean floor. What valuable items do you have that might please the Goddess?" Deren tested the waters first.

Azshara lowered her head and pondered for a moment before saying awkwardly, "I did recover quite a few things from the sunken cities, but I don't know whether Elune would think highly of them."

"If it were the Tidestone?" Deren said evenly. "Would you be willing to part with that artifact?"

"No!" Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Azshara sprang upright on all three of her tails with a swish, looking down at the three people across from her.

Aegwynn snorted and stood as well. Arcane energy scattered outward, filling the air with a dense series of crackles. Tiny bolts of lightning flashed continuously. She snapped, "Watch your attitude, Naga Queen."

"I-I was too worked up just now!" Strength truly was the best teacher. Azshara immediately became obedient again. She slumped back down and said softly, "The Tidestone is the source of power that keeps Nazjatar's seawater at bay. If I offer it to Elune, I'm afraid Nazjatar will be flooded,